Chapter 23: Every Struggle
Daylan had nearly read all the books in the library in just five days, but his sleep schedule had never been more erratic.
The day before, his mother and Zira had come to visit, just as he'd hoped. They enjoyed some rare family time together, but his mother seemed more enthusiastic than usual. Daylan could tell she was simply relieved that their debt had been paid off, but her unprovoked laughter and constant patting of his shoulder felt a little odd. He shrugged it off for the moment, considering it a side of his mother he hadn't seen before.
Upon their arrival, Daylan learned that Zira would be taking her Luck Trial soon. Not wanting his sister to end up like he did, he decided to make a note of everything he had learned about the Luck Trial, summarize it in simpler terms for her twelve-year-old mind, and trim down the details to help her prepare for what she might face in her trial.
The afternoon felt warmer than usual. Daylan sat in his seat at the library, relaxing his muscles after all the workouts he'd been doing, as he wrote what he could to help Zira prepare for her trial.
Astara and Medora walked in and took their seats. With just one glance, Daylan could tell they had something important to say.
"Is there anything you want me to know?" He glanced at their faces.
Medora turned to him. "Yeah... I think I've found something about the men in black."
Daylan's interest was piqued. He leaned forward. "Okay, what's it?"
"Well, I spoke to a few adventurers yesterday. I described the men in black and their cloaks. If one of them was right, then these men might be the same as the Anti-Diviners—just under different leadership and jurisdiction."
Daylan listened attentively.
She continued. "The man told me about a place called The Coffee Shop, a centuries-old café located in the center of the city. According to him, there are certain catchphrases you can use there that'll get you directed to a secret room."